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U.S. DOT mulling new ban on in-flight cell calls

The U.S. Department of Transportation may seek a formal ban on in-flight cellphone calls, reports The Wall Street Journal. Following a Federal Communications Commission proposal to allow in-flight cellular calling, airlines have suggested that they can self-determine whether cellphone service should be allowed, and have accused the DOT of overstepping its authority on this matter; some carriers hope to offer “passenger-friendly” ways to allow calls. According to the report, the DOT is reportedly planning to propose an in-flight calling rule nonetheless, though the department has said that “there is no final determination” on what that rule will be. Notably, a June report said that the DOT also seeks to give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the ability to regulate navigation in cars, as part of the Grow America Act.